What is "ALL"? If you knew how often I hear this phrase ... As a veterinary clinic technician, part of my job is to sort the information the client gives me before giving a brief report to the veterinarian who will conduct the examination. During a first consultation with a new animal, the same topics of discussion come back: vaccines, dewormers, microchip, sterilization, insurance (yes, yes, pet insurance!) etc. When a client tells me that their puppy has received EVERYTHING, I always ask them, "What is "everything"? »The answer I receive in 98% of cases is: « Well… the basic! » Here is a short 101 course, on the first consultation with a puppy! First of all, what is the famous basic vaccine? The basic vaccine protects the dog against 4 contagious and potentially fatal viruses: distemper, adenovirus type-2, parvovirus and parainfluenza. The puppy will receive 3 to 4 monthly doses (the last dose should be given at 4 months old) for optimal immunity. Other vaccines such as leptospirosis, kennel cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica), rabies and Lyme disease are available. You and your veterinarian can have a discussion to develop a vaccination plan specific to your pet's lifestyle.
NOTE: Contrary to popular belief, vaccines given at a young age are NOT good for life! We must make annual or triennial reminders to keep the immunity! Has your dog also received ALL of his dewormers? Impressive! Often, upon adoption, the puppies will have received a first treatment of dewormers, which is an excellent start. However, puppies should be dewormed once a month until the age of 6 months to ensure that intestinal parasites are eliminated, regardless of their stage of life. Whether a puppy comes from a shelter, from a breeder, or from elsewhere, he may have gotten intestinal parasites after drinking breast milk. And let's be honest, puppies tend to put their feet in and lick a lot of dirty things, a good dewormer will do them the greatest good!
As it is now mandatory in Montreal, I thought it was a good idea to give you a quick overview of the famous microchip, in order to answer certain questions that are often asked. First, the microchip is made of biocompatible materials, which eliminates the possibility of rejection by the body. In addition, the microchip only activates when it
is in contact with an electromagnetic wave emitted by a microchip reader, so it does not emit continuous waves. The microchip contains a unique series of numbers and must be registered with the company for your personal information to be attached. Some veterinary clinics will do the basic registration for you, others will let you do it yourself. A microchip is kind of like a social insurance number, everyone has their unique number. The microchip does not allow to geolocate the animal either if he is lost, but it is used to identify him if he is found. That will be all for the moment on this subject! If you have any questions or have a subject you would like us to elaborate on in detail, let us know! Myriam, TSA
(translated by Johanne)